We sell a lot of Bandol around here; it is a proud tradition by now. One of the many things we love about it is its impressive versatility at table. From young reds served cool alongside bouillabaisse, simpler fish stews, or daubes from octopus or squid (especially tasty with a black olive component) to older wines served with roast fowl, grilled meats, and wild game—there are so many occasions when Bandol is appropriate. And its savory qualities lend so much to a meal. The virtues we appreciate most in a bottle of Terrebrune Bandol are its fine tannins and its drinkability. Neither attribute prevents it from aging gracefully.

$36.00 per bottle $388.80 per case

2006 BANDOL • DOMAINE DE TERREBRUNE

The only thing better than a young Terrebrune Bandol that is accessible immediately and can be served cool in the summertime is a Terrebrune with almost eight years of age on it. Vintage 2006 produced classic wines in Bandol, and by that I mean they are built to age. Much like in Bordeaux—or in Burgundy and Barolo, for that matter—the vintage is tightly wound, with solid tannic structure and a serious personality. It isn’t austere, but it isn’t a wide-open, flamboyant vintage, either. Vintages like this after a hyped year such as 2005 are often forgotten or overlooked, only to surface later as prizes in the cellars of those who didn’t overlook them and frustrate those who did. This Terrebrune has certainly reached the point where you can enjoy it now, but it is many years from its apogee. If you can, I advise buying a few more bottles than you normally would in order to drink a few now and let a few more mature so that you can follow their evolution.